Over 5 crore toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission

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The government on December 18, 2017 informed the Rajya Sabha that it had constructed more than 5 crore toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission. Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Shri Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi told the Upper House that it built 561.75 lakh toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission (rural). Nearly 29.08 lakh toilets were constructed under the MGNREGA and seven states/UTs were declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), he added.

In a written reply, the government said Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was a demand-driven scheme and hence state-wise funds were not allocated. The minister stated that states/UTs had to first furnish details of utilised and unutilised funds for release of central funds under SBM.

Shri Jigajinagi also said the ministry regularly monitored the implementation of SBM through review meetings with the states. “The ministry has developed a comprehensive system of monitoring the programme through periodic visits by ministry officials and union ministers,” he said.

Online monitoring had been strengthened and transparency increased in the implementation of SBM by making all data, including the names and addresses of the beneficiaries, available in the public domain.